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NBA Scouting Report: Who's the best point guard around?

By Terry Brown

Friday, November 8 Updated 2:40 PM EST

When Gary Payton woke up Wednesday morning, he had no idea he would end the day with a season-high 29 points and a broken heart after losing a two-point game.

Because the day before, he finished the game with a career-high 18 assists while the game before that he added three steals to his Hall of Fame total of 2,021 and the game before that he would hit 3 of 4 shots from three-point range after filming a video game commercial starring none other than, well, himself drilling, well, three-point shots.

Such is the life of an NBA point guard.

"Back when I first started working in the NBA, there were no point guards," said one NBA scout. "There were just two guards who were expected to do it all. We went through a period where the so-called true point guard came into being but now that the players have gotten so much bigger, I think were getting back to the all around type of player and away from the specialist. Even the smaller point guards want and are expected to score."

On that same Wednesday night, point guard Jason Kidd scored 24 points while point guard Andre Miller handed out 13 assists while point guard Jason Williams hit four three-pointers while point guard Baron Davis tallied three steals.

Did I mention point guard Milt Palacio's blocked shot?

It is now Friday afternoon and 20 NBA teams are about to take the court in 10 different cities and four different time zones with one thing in mind and a million different ways. Do you know what your favorite point guard is doing right now?

"Do you mean true point guards or all of the players in that position," asked one NBA scout.

Well, yeah.

"Can I include players who should be playing that position," asked another.

Um, well . . .

"Can I give you a runner-up and maybe an honorable mention, instead?" asked another.

OK.

So we broke the point guard position into four different facets [scoring, Passing, Ball Handling and Defense], added a Wild Card [who they thought would make the best point guard without ever having played the position] and had a few NBA scouts and writers rate who they thought were the best players in each category. Everyone had their favorites, their begrudges and one even called back to change a nominee.

Here's how it came out:

Scoring Point Guard

Steve Francis

It was unanimous. Currently averaging 30 a night with career numbers approaching 20. You've seen the dunks but recognize that he's never averaged fewer than 6.5 assists per game (and almost as many boards) in a season and still drills 1.4 three-pointers a game.

Scout's Quote: "Hands down. Iverson is the only comparison and he gets to play shooting guard."

Runner-ups: Stephon Marbury, Sam Cassell.

Passing Point Guard

Jason Kidd

Arguably, but not too much or too loud, the best point guard in the game today. Doesn't just create baskets with his passes, but tempo and mood and theme. True artist. Only the fourth player in NBA history to lead the league in assists three years in a row. His next assist will be number 5,456.

Scout's Quote: "Great peripheral vision along with unparalleled feel for the game. And he's such a great penetrater with that big body. Defenders just bounce off him."

Runner-ups: Andre Miller, Jason Williams

Defensive Point Guards

Gary Payton

The guy will finish with more than 20,000 points scored in his career so you can imagine how good he is defensively if all we can remember is him locking down speedy little guys or sharp shooters or big shooting guards. They don't call him the Glove for nothing. And we haven't even gotten to the trash talking.

Scout's Quote: "I cannot say enough about this guy without forgetting something. He is that good."

Runner-ups: Baron Davis, Derek Fisher

Ball Handling Point Guard

Steve Nash

This one was tough. Everyone had their own taste and while Nash was never the top choice, he kept coming up. Just like his career. The surprise first-rounder switches teams and all of a sudden is running the highest-scoring offense in the game. The circus has started.

Scout's Quote: "Look, my momma can stand still and do tricks dribbling the ball. But that kind of thing is ruining the game. You still have to be able to get the ball from point A to point B. That comes first."

Runner-ups: Jason Kidd, John Stockton, Jason Williams, Baron Davis, Steve Francis

Point Guard by Another Name

Grant Hill

I know. I know. As much of a pick based on his past as well as what we think he'll do, but, just like in the category above, his name wouldn't go away. Somewhat surprising that Lamar Odom and Jalen Rose, guys who came into the league as combo players, failed to show at all. A triple-doubler by nature, he may even become a better playmaker after all the injuries take their toll on his first step and spring. Unselfish to a fault with a combination of handles and height to spare against anyone who would guard at small forward.

Scout's Quote: "In his day, it'd be hard to find a better player at all."

Runner-ups: Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Vlade Divac, Antoine Walker